Rumor: Rangers have rejected a massive trade deal.

The New York Rangers may have very nearly been on the verge of a blockbuster trade of their own.

In a recent radio segment for TSN's 1050 radio, TSN insider Bob McKenzie revealed that the Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche had a deal on the table that would have sent star forward Matt Duchene to the Rangers, but the Rangers rejected that offer. 

“I’m in studio tonight doing a Boston Bruin-New York Ranger game and do the Rangers need a center? Yeah, they need a center as much now as when they weren’t .500," said McKenzie as per Fanrag's Chris Nichols. "And they were in on Duchene."

According to McKenzie the Rangers really wanted to bring Duchene in to their organization, however they weren't willing to sacrifice one of their young defensemen to do so.

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"They wanted Duchene badly, but not enough to give up defenseman Brady Skjei, which was what Colorado was insisting he be part of the package."

Skjei is a 23-year-old former Rangers first round pick, and if the package Ottawa gave up in this deal is any indication of what the Avalanche were asking it would likely have cost the Rangers Skjei + a first round draft selection to make the deal a reality. That would mean the Rangers, who have mortgaged their future for playoff runs as of late, would have to give up even more of their future assets for just one player who is not guaranteed to re-sign with them.

Did the Rangers act wisely by holding on to Skjei and presumably their first round draft choice? Or would you have pulled the trigger to acquire Duchene?